# eater

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈiː.tɚ/ · frequency rank #16,697

## Definitions
1. A person or animal who eats.
2. A fruit or other food that is suitable for eating, especially one that is intended to be eaten uncooked.
3. A configuration of cells that appears to consume another configuration by gradually causing it to disappear.

## Etymology
From Middle English eter, etere, etter, from Old English etere; equivalent to eat + -er (agent noun suffix) or + -er (patient suffix) (food suitable for eating).

## Easily confused with
- **ever** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eater-vs-ever)
- **eats** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eater-vs-eats)
- **enter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eater-vs-enter)
- **elder** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eater-vs-elder)
- **Eaton** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eater-vs-eaton)
- **ether** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eater-vs-ether)
- **Elmer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eater-vs-elmer)
- **ester** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eater-vs-ester)
- **ember** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eater-vs-ember)
- **eaves** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eater-vs-eaves)
- **Estes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eater-vs-estes)
- **Euler** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eater-vs-euler)
- **ender** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eater-vs-ender)
- **either** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eater-vs-either)
- **enters** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eater-vs-enters)
- **Esther** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eater-vs-esther)
- **Exeter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eater-vs-exeter)
- **elated** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eater-vs-elated)
- **eraser** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eater-vs-eraser)
- **eatery** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eater-vs-eatery)

## Common misspellings (6)
`aeter`, `eaetr`, `eaterr`, `eatre`, `eatter`, `etaer`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/eater